Shanghai Jingan Temple and Yuyuan Garden

Somewhere in Shanghai
We head out from my hotel to a supermarket, because I want to buy candy.

My guess is that this is the Huangpujiang River.

Here’s the CarreFour Supermarket.

 

Jingan Temple

We then go to Jingan Temple, which is in the heart of the city. it was originally built in 247 AD, in another location, and then relocated here, rebuilt several times, and is now wrapping up additional construction. It is surrounded by huge skyscrapers. The temple is actively used and operated by monks, and open to the community and tourism as well.

 

Here’s what it sounds like:

 

 

We pay an entrance fee, buy incense, bow 3 times towards Buddha, and place the incense on the altar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The temple is a huge maze.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yuyuan Garden

In the evening we head to Yuyuan Garden, a famous classical Chinese garden, but at night, a wild shopping district, filled with people from all over.
The Garden dates back to 1577 in the Ming Dynasty, when Pen Yunduan built it as a retirement home for his aging parents.

I didn’t get to see much of the garden (it was night), so I did some shopping and eating in the surrounding buildings.
It was impossible to avoid getting accosted by vendors selling knock off watches, bags, and jewelry. “Rolex… Rolex… Prada… Rolex…” as the vendors try to stuff a brochure in my hand. Police scold them as they get really aggressive towards tourists.

Played it safe and comfortable the last few days in Shanghai and just ate Hagen Daas and KFC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trip Summary

This was the most time I had spent outside of the States thus far, and by the end I dearly missed American food. I think I could have spent more time in China if I was able to grab an authentic pizza or burger more often.

By the end I felt both a mix of comfort and wonder, still enamored at the visible history and the sense of populous across China. Jiuzhaigou was simply an amazing experience, even if I was too exhausted to fully enjoy it. As always, Jing was always my guide to all things China, even if I was in another city.

Soon after this trip, I began to plan my next, wanting to experience more of China’s mountains.